After talking about it for quite some time, our little family recently decided to add another member to our family. One of the reasons we’d been excited to buy an acreage was the fact we’d finally have to room to add a pet to our family. And when we saw an adorable Bengal kitten available in our area, we couldn’t resist him!

Having a kitten in the house is a lot of fun, but if there’s one thing about cats that’s no fun at all, it’s cleaning a litter box. So, when PetSafe Canada gave me the chance to review its innovative ScoopFree litter box, I was delighted.

This litter box is designed to make dealing with cat waste as pleasant of an experience as it can possibly be. First, we put the disposable cardboard box in place under the litter box top. Then we added the included Blue Crystal Litter and plugged in the device. [Read more…]

Being pregnant again after so many years since my last baby was an interesting experience. Having “been there, done that” before, I had a pretty good idea of how I wanted pregnancy to go. I took my prenatal vitamin, along with an Omega-3 supplement, religiously. I indulged in prenatal massages. I tried my best to stay flexible with light yoga a few times a week.

But with two older boys in the house, a husband with an inconsistent schedule and the inevitable cravings of pregnancy, I had a surprisingly hard time making sure I was eating a healthy diet! Unlike my other two pregnancies, I had intense sugar cravings when carrying Cormac. And heartburn often had me skipping meals as well. [Read more…]

When it comes to shopping for my husband, one of my favourite go-to gift ideas is new clothing. I have a love of fashion that I’ve gradually passed on to Jeremy, in large part by giving him outfits that I think are especially stylish.

Because of that, I’m always on the lookout for new online shops that have trendy clothing for men. When I discovered The Idle Man online boutique, I knew I’d found a new favourite spot for affordable and fashionable menswear. And I was thrilled when I got the chance to choose a Valentine’s Day outfit to review. [Read more…]

Having Baby Cormac join our family this past summer has been such a wonderful experience. And I have to say that I’m surprised by how much fun it is to have a baby in the house again!

I forgot so much about babies in the years since my older two boys were infants, both the joys and the challenges that come with babyhood. And with winter taking its toll on the household, I’ve remembered how dry weather can take its toll on a baby’s delicate skin.

Currently, Live Clean Baby products are my go-to for making sure Baby Cormac’s skin gets the gentle cleansing and moisture that it needs. I especially love the company’s Non-Petroleum Jelly for treating my little one’s bottom if he gets a touch of diaper rash. [Read more…]

You’ve seen it go viral on Facebook. You’ve watched videos about it. You’ve probably talked about it with friends. But have you ever actually considered buying a PortoVino wine purse that hides and stores up to two bottles of wine inside?

When I had the chance to review a PortoVino bag, I simply couldn’t resist. For one thing, the bags themselves are gorgeous! I chose the blue purse; the striking colour and creamy faux leather won my heart at first glance. But I also wanted to see just how the bags worked, and how handy I might find them!

When it comes to cooking, I love to put a new twist on some of the more classic dishes that we all love. And as a family that’s obsessed by barbeque, I tend to dress up our hot dogs fairly often! I’ve done Mexican-style hot dogs with salsa, sour cream and cheese. I’ve done loaded dogs with all the classic burger vegetables.

And when Gourmet Trading Co. gave me the chance to review some of the scrumptious Stonewall Kitchen products, I decided to choose ones that would let me create a gourmet hot dog that would combine some of the fanciest flavours with the ballpark favourite.

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

There’s so much to love about a little one’s first Christmas season, and I enjoyed plenty of fun and festive moments with Baby Cormac this year. Having a baby in the house makes holidays even more magical, and our entire family loved every minute of it.

At only four months old, Cormac was still too young for some of the holiday highlights, like traditional festive food and waiting for Santa. Yet he loved looking at the colourful Christmas tree, playing with the jingling bells we had around the house and, most of all, seeing all his extended family members!

But while Christmas with a baby was non-stop fun, winter with a baby can be significantly more challenging. From the extra time and effort of bundling up my baby before going outside to the worries about him catching a cold, I can’t help but sometimes wish we lived in summer warmth all year long.

Cormac had a healthy winter right up until January and then got his first real cold after a holiday season spent visiting dozens of extended family members. Luckily, I made sure to stock the house with essentials that I always find myself using when my little one ends up with the sniffles. When it comes to helping my baby feel comfortable, I don’t want to be scrambling for what I need! These are my five top must-haves: [Read more…]

At the beginning of every year, I pick a word to represent my goals for the coming months and give me focus. Last year, that word was growth. And between moving to our big custom-built home and adding a new baby to our family, I think I accomplished it!

The year was jam-packed with all kinds of events, which meant I relished every bit of relaxing time that I got even more. And Netflix Canada was there for me all year with shows to help me unwind and forget the hustle and bustle of the day.

There was a lot to love about Netflix in 2017, from the adult-friendly kid’s series A Series of Unfortunate Events to the much-anticipated Stranger Things 2. Of course, I couldn’t resist binge-watching the entire newest season of my favourite Netflix show, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. [Read more…]